nicholaslongstaff.ca

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The Great Harvest of Hope project being created for Young IDEAs dramatic presentation and can confidently say that the collaborative piece will be most moving and intriguing.

The adolescent writings that we are currently processing and editing are by turns , funny, sad, enlightening and heart warming so the end production will be rooted in very inspiring words and ideas.

In true World Congress spirit the Sherbrooke experience is awesome! You would be intrigued by the energy in the room.

There are four languages being spoken all the time in the room, English, French, Spanish and Mandarin!

So far, in only a day and half, we have processed the first reading and edit of nearly 600 works from the Philippines, China, Cuba, Peru, Belgium, Croatia, South Africa, and Iceland.

And are currently immersed in writings from Zimbabwe, Appleby College//Canada, Columbia, London//Canada, Mentor College//Canada, Quebec, and Taiwan, US, India.

We are all working very hard and are excited about where this will all lead for the presentation in Belem//Brazil.

Here’s another great contribution:

FROM NOW ON I WILL (by Christopher//12)
From now on I will bring peace and love,
Please and love as beautiful as a dove,
From now on I will bring love and care,
For everyone, everywhere.
From now on I will respect and treat,
with kindness, everyone that I meet.
From now on I will bring together,
Everyone and peace forever.
Peace with you.

This is no plea for money, but instead, for creativity!
DEADLINE: This SUNDAY January 23rd

“The Great Harvest of Hope” project speaks to my heart and soul, by bringing together the ideas, words and music of young people from more than thirty countries around the world, in the aim to inspire hope, spread peace, and change lives for the better.

I know that the seeds of your imagination - and the creative young people you know - will make an essential contribution.

Here’s how the BIG project works:
* Young people (8 - 19 years) from around the world contribute their creativity
in English, French, Spanish, and Portugese.
* Starting January 24th EVERY submission is translated
into each of the other 3 languages
* Over the next few months, a script is fashioned by a multi-lingual
team in Quebec — I will be assisting in this facillitation, in person, in Sherbrooke
* In SPRING: an international team of young performers, drawn from each of
the 30 participating countries, will create a multi-language show
* The resulting performance becomes the centrepiece in the
International Drama and Dance Educators Association congress
in Brazil - Summer 2010

My responsibility is the brisk coordination of CANADIAN Contribution - and I will also be documenting as much of the process as possible for viewing on the Internet, and other new media channels.

There will be hundreds of participants speaking English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. LET’s Get the CANADIAN VOICE HEARD TOO!

I need your help…
A] …in choosing a one or a few young participants who have something special to contribute

AND/OR

B] …assembling a small group tweens and teens to talk about, and then contribute

AND/OR

C] …If you fit the age range, by CONTRIBUTING YOUR OWN CREATIVITY

HERE’s WHAT STARTS OFF THE WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS.
Respond in words, images and/or song to the following starting points:
[ONE]
taking time …to do, to think, to feel
Starting points:
a) Each day…
b) From now on, I will…

[TWO]
my place …in my community, in the world, in my life
Starting points:
a) There is always… and it…
b) I feel like trying…

[THREE]
my fears …how they stand now, how I might overpower them
Starting points:
a) I feel as if…
b) All it would take…

[FOUR]
the same or different …in terms of culture, gender, age
Starting points:
a) I see that…
b) I decided…

[FIVE]
water …as shared, hoarded, polluted or wasted by us all
Starting points:
a) In my daily life…
b) Perhaps…

DEADLINE: This Sunday January 24th

EMAIL Submissions to: longstaff.n@gmail.com

In all cases, once the basic responses have been recorded, all participants are invited to take a little more time to express
through Words, ideas, poetry, song, impressions, and images…

If you see a possibility to use Video or Audio - GREAT - we’ll need to talk about HOW though — these forms are much more difficult and time consuming to translate.

As the Coordinator for the Canadian Contribution to the project, I hope you’ll let me know:
First: how you think you can help
Second: what questions you have for me, for clarification
Third: what help you need from me, for you to contribute

I think this is the start of the kind of work that can reshape young people’s connection to the world they will soon inherit from us - It’s about collaboration, creativity and hope, and I hope you will be part of it!

yours sincerely,

Nicholas

Showcasing some of North America’s finest emerging art
and independent rock talent in a nationally recognized festival in
downtown London Ontario

FIRST TIME EVER…
ShadowD will be installed OUTDOORS
in the heart of Beautiful Victoria Park

see: www.lolafest.com
for details

THE SHADOW:
The darkness that cannot be perceived without light. The shade – both in us and around us –which we fear for what it obscures. The obscurity in which we shroud ourselves, that we may risk less, hide more, and thus make ourselves ‘safe’ from the clarity of light.

Our mimicking mate on our travels – the transient impression we cast on the matter we happen
to block from the light.

The realization we hope to make possible for the participant: that we are all of us forever moving through shadows in this life, and as soon as we think we have reached the light (that “oh I get it!” moment) the Trickster changes the rules (or twists the kaliedescope, or shifts our perspective) and we find ourselves back in the dark again

THE TRICKSTER:

“This world can not be understood. Nor can it be controlled. It can only be experienced; and to what degree is not even always our choice. And as soon as one believes s/he comprehends, or takes power, everything changes – for everything changes anyway.

Advice: Be vulnerable, honest, & alive, and strive anyway!”

Present here, are but a few of the rich abundance of stories available concerning crows and ravens. Presented first are stories of the trickster. The trickster is an element of oral stories in almost every known tribal people. In the north, Raven and Crow are joined by Coyote, Beaver, and Wolverine. Trickster is not just a jokester or magician, but can present itself in such realms as love and education. Trickster may be the fuel behind the man who cannot control his lust, or more benignly, the one who teaches another how to exalt in life and find beauty in even the most commonplace things.

“His presence demands, cries out for, compassion and generosity toward existence itself. Trickster is a celebrator of life, a celebration of life, because by rallying against him a community discovers its own resilience and protective skills.” ~ Howard Norman

Précis: Blackfoot (Western Canada)

Raven stole all the buffaloes, antelope, deer, moose, and rabbits–leaving nothing for themselves. Once, the Old Man; the creator, turned himself into a dog for the purpose of trying to retrieve these animals and recruited the help of the chief’s son. When they found all the animals hidden away in a deep cave, they freed them all, and attempted to run the buffalo of a cliff as a clever hunting technique. But just when they thought they were going to be successful, Raven appeared from the edge of the cliff, driving them back into the cave.

Excerpt: Blackfoot (Western Canada)

“No, I am afraid I will fall into the water,” said Fox.

“Oh, no, you can’t fall into the water,” returned Raven. “Surely you can jump as well as I can.”

Mr. Fox was not to be outdone by a mere raven, however wise. If Raven could do it so could he. Down, down he slid so fast he couldn’t stop and landed right in the center of the pond.

Mr. Raven’s plan worked well. He threw his head back in wild laughter. “Help! Help!” shouted the fox. “I am sinking!” But Mr. Raven only laughed and laughed as if he would die laughing and didn’t stop until long after the fox had drowned.

Excerpt: Dena’ina Indian

Robber came along and saw him lying there, half rotten and full of maggots. He blew into his friend’s nose, saying, “Come back as a new animal.”

Crow came back to life. He was itcy. “Here I was just sleeping,” he said to Robber. “You woke me up!”

Robber told him, “You were stealing fish, and that boy put an arrow into you. You were destroyed. You drifted ashore and got maggoty. That’s why you needed new life. I fixed you up.”

He told the Crow how he had dipped water and said, “Let it turn to medicine.” He spilled it on his friend. “Shake yourself,” he told Crow, and Crow shook himself. The maggots fell off and he was healed.

ABOUT TRICKSTER TALES

In oral traditions worldwide, a story featuring a protagonist (often an anthropomorphized animal) who has magical powers and is characterized as a compendium of opposites. Simultaneously an omniscient creator and an innocent fool, a malicious destroyer and a childlike prankster, the trickster-hero serves as a sort of folkloric scapegoat onto which are projected the fears, failures, and unattained ideals of the source culture.

~ ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITTANICA

The trickster character is common in stories from many cultures. Trickster stories have a long history and were originally passed down through oral tradition. Through story telling tales are often passed between cultures and so the tale changes over time.

While trickster tales are entertaining because we enjoy the foolish behaviour that gets the trickster in trouble, they also convey meaning. They provide insight into human nature and human behaviour. We recognize what motivates the trickster and know that sometime we are tempted to act in a similar way. The trickster often looks like the underdog and we can sympathize and appreciate his wit. The trickster can be both very clever and very foolish.

In some stories the trickster is a smaller or weaker animal who uses cunning to outwit a stronger, more powerful animal.

There are differences between the trickster of European origin and those of most other cultures. Only in European stories does the trickster often have no redeeming qualities.

Think of the Wolf in Little Red Riding. It’s difficult to see any good in that character. But the Trickster from most other cultures, include the First Nations, is capable of both harm and good.

~ SOUTHERN ONTARIO LIBRARY SERVICE

In the Native American oral tradition, the vulgar but sacred Trickster assumes many forms.  He can be Old-Man Coyote among the Crow tribes, Raven in northwestern Indian lore, or, more generically, “The Tricky One” (such as Wakdjunkaga among the Winnebago or Manabozho among the Menomini), to mention just a few of his manifestations.

…Trickster alternately scandalizes, disgusts, amuses, disrupts, chastises, and humiliates (or is humiliated by) the animal-like proto-people of pre-history, yet he is also a creative force transforming their world, sometimes in bizarre and outrageous ways, with his instinctive energies and cunning. Eternally scavenging for food, he represents the most basic instincts, but in other narratives, he is also the father of the Indian people and a potent conductor of spiritual forces in the form of sacred dreams.

~ PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
Dr. K. L. Nichols

Trickster tales are great favorites in many cultures. They often use an animal, who represents the underdog, that uses skill and cunning to outwit a superior. Black slaves often used trickster tales in their storytelling. They identified with the small but cunning animal that fooled a more powerful bully such as the plantation owner. People around the world find trickster tales both entertaining and amusing and receive satisfaction from knowing that a smaller, and often weaker, creature has bested a larger and more powerful adversary.

Sometimes the trickster animal is characterized as being himself greedy, imitative, stupid, pretentious and deceitful. In the Native American mythology, he attempts trickery in many forms but very often gets tricked himself. Sometimes, though, the people in the community benefit by the trickster’s thievery and deceitfulness. But usually the trickster is clever enough to come out a winner.

In the North Pacific Coast, Trickster may be a Raven, Mink, or Bluejay. In the Plateau, in the Great Basin, in California, in the Southwest, and in parts of the western Plains, the Coyote is the trickster par excellence. He is the best known of all North American Indian tricksters. Coyote stories also abound in the Hispanic culture. Other animals that are used in these stories are the rabbit along with the hare and Wisakedjak (Whiskey Jack). In South America, a fox plays the major role in many of their stories. The trickster’s companions are also very important because they sometimes serve as stooges for the trickster and at other times completely outwit him. These roles are played by the Fox, Wolf, Wildcat, Lynx and other animals such as the alligator.

Black folk tales, including the Trickster tales, were brought to the United States by Africans, who had been captured in their homeland and then brought to this new country where they were sold as slaves. They were separated and isolated from their people. They were not supposed to speak their own languages. They weren’t allowed to learn to read and write. They were compelled to do hard labor and were warned never to run away. Out of these dire circumstances arose a spirit that made life bearable. This was often expressed in the riddles and jokes made up and in the tales that were told. The stories were often an expression of the experiences which they underwent. In the introduction to her book The People Could Fly , Virginia Hamilton tells us that “the slaves created tales in which various animals—such as the rabbit, fox, bear, wolf, turtle or terrapin, snake, and possum—took on the characteristics of the people found in the new environment of the plantation. (p. x)” Brer or Bruh Rabbit became a favorite of the storytellers. He was “small and apparently helpless compared to the powerful bear, the wily fox, and the ferocious wolf. But the slaveteller made the rabbit smart, tricky, and clever, the winner over larger and stronger animals. Still, Bruh Rabbit sometimes got into trouble, just as the slaves did, which made him seem all the more human.” (p. x).

These tales were once a creative way for an oppressed people to express their fears and hopes to one another. They were created out of sorrow, but the stories transcended their environment and turned many an unbearable day into one of smiles, chuckles, and rollicking laughter.

One of the stories which I have chosen for this unit is the “Leaf Monster” which is told by Teresa Piojan de van Etten in her book Spanish-American Folktales, in which she has collected folk tales enjoyed by the Spanish-speaking people in the south-western area of the United States. There are more trickster tales in this book.

Coyote is the trickster in this story. He creates so much havoc in the village, by chasing the chickens, scaring the pigs, etc., that the village men decide to capture and cage him. In order to avoid this, Coyote offers to help the shoemaker by delivering some special shoes to the beekeeper’s daughter. He sets out and hears the beekeeper making his way down the path. He drops one shoe at a time and distracts the beekeeper. The beekeeper lays his container of honey down beside the road while he tries to locate the two shoes. Coyote steals the honey and eats it. A fly gets stuck to his honey-covered snout. He tries to shake off the fly but to no avail and so he rolls on the ground in an effort to get rid of it. Somehow, the fly escapes but meanwhile Coyote’s sticky fur is now matted with sticks, leaves, dirt, and other debris from off the ground. As he tries to escape this mess, he meets the men with the cage for him. The men see this monster, drop the cage, and run screaming in fear. Meanwhile, Coyote is very tired and goes to the river to get a drink and swim. The river assuages his thirst and washes off his excess baggage. When he comes out of the river, he finds the whole village looking for the monster and when they see that the monster is no one but coyote, they laugh and declare that they cannot take Coyote away because he makes them laugh.

The second story is from a Virginia Hamilton’s collection of Black folk tales and is entitled “Bruh Alligator Meets Trouble.” In this story Bruh Rabbit teaches naive Bruh Alligator what trouble is by playing a trick on him. The story also explains how the alligator got its skin looking the way it does and why it lives so close to the river.

~ YALE UNIVERSITY

Written: Monday, March 12th.

Tom (16)

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, I’m back for another weekly update. First, I’d like to start with apologizing for being late on this one, life has got me caught up, but now, it’s March Break, and I have some time to write.

In my last blog, I promised to fill you in on what is taking place in the Design Department. During my visit, the department was made up of April, Melody, and of course, Amber, with Darryl from Script lending a hand because the script was finished. Each member had a job to do.

Starting with Melody. Melody’s job was to work on a list of props and costumes for the play, along with Darryl who was lending her a hand. It seemed like a long and vigorous task, that is essential to the designers, and ultimately, the end result of the play. After the prop list is completed, it would be used so the ladies of the design department can tell what to create for the show, how to create it, and what scene it falls into.

While Darryl was down stairs helping the ladies, he was put to work on setting up bars to hang a fabric April was measuring and cutting, then handing off to Amber to paint over a goo like substance. Darryl hanged chains on the ceiling, so he could fit large metal bars through them, for easy hanging.

April, along with Fanshawe student, Kat, were measuring a green fabric, and cutting it. This fabric will be used for the back drop, or, in terms that one might understand a little better, the background.

Finally, the last member of the design department, Amber. Amber volunteered to take the job of what I personally felt looked like the most boring, but she assured me it was better then it looked. Amber was asked to mix up a substance made up of water, glue, and paint. Stuck with mixing these three substances for a long time, Amber and Nick began to notice that the effects weren’t working like they had planned it too, it was then realized by the two that the paint they were using was oil based, a paint that wouldn’t work for the job they were trying to get down. It wasn’t until after a lot of wasted time mixing nothing, that they figured it out. I’ve yet to give Amber the “I Told You So” speech on how she was stuck with the most boring job of the day, and she found that out the hard way. But hey, at least I got a laugh out of it by the end of the day.

Moving on to last Saturdays rehearsal, Nick presented to the company and idea the promotions team and himself came up with for the poster. I am one of the head designers in the poster, and it seemed like we were having troubles with the creation of the poster, we were giving a new route, we could on use two colours. So, we decided on Silhouettes. With myself put in charge of the look of the poster, we would use out bodies to create the poster, using silhouettes, based on the design I presented to the company. It took most of the day, but the end result couldn’t have been better. Whether it’s the final image for the poster, or if some edits are going into it, you won’t be disappointed with the outcome of our poster.